For a 1098-T, if box 1 and 5 is the same, what do the student put as the portion for employer assistance when they answer yes to receiving help to pay for school.

[pjher94]

My education is paid for by my employer, Amazon, through their career choice program. Because i start school in May of 2024, my position as a student is half-time. Therefore, i was unable to utilize my full 5250 tuition assistance, causing box 1 and box 5 to be the same amount. Thus, i became confuse. Do i put the whole total of 3485 as the portion since i didn't pay for any tuition expense at all throughout the year, from when i start to dec. 31 2024?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Q.  What does the student put as the portion for employer assistance when they answer yes to receiving help to pay for school.

A. In your case,  nothing. It appears that it is  already covered in box 5 of the 1098-T.

When employer assistance is sent directly to the school, the school will frequently report it in box 5 of the 1098-T, as scholarship. 

In your case, the 1098-T does not need to be entered in TT. The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return.